1st - €6,900.00 2nd - €1,700.00 3rd - €800.00 4th - €500.00 Fine

Formscan By Eamonn Murphy - Nine starts (including two point-to-points) haven't yielded a win yet for THE CRAFTY BUTCHER, but his turn could have arrived here. In fairness the Vinnie Roe gelding has been consistent and indeed he only lost out by a nose on one occasion, in a bumper behind Our Vinnie. The mare that proved superior to him at Cork last week, Blossom Gate, is a good one at her best, so hopefully The Crafty Butcher won't come up against something like that here. Michael Hourigan said of him in a recent Irish Field stable tour: "I think he'll be my weekend horse this year, or as they say in England, a Saturday horse. He probably should have won a bumper and he ran a cracker again the other day. Two and a half miles will suit and he'll go for a maiden hurdle now. I am hoping that he'll develop into a good novice over a trip. He is a real nice horse and the further he goes the better. Ground isn't really an issue for him." The Crafty Butcher holds Coolmill and Vintage Supreme on Cork form and it'll be disappointing if he can't prevail now.

A hurdle race for five yrs old and upwards, maidens at starting
Weights - 11st 12lb; Mares allowed 7lb;